Fire-escape



(No Model.)

H. D. EASTMAN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 275,895. fl Patented A1 17,1883.

WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

NITED STATES PATENT Fries.

Fl RE-ES'CAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,895, dated April1'7, 1883.

Application filed October 11, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HASKETT D. EASTMAN, ofMinneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, haveinvented a new and Improved Fire-Escape, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a means for the ready escape ofpersons from burning buildings, and also to facilitate the work offiremen upon such buildings.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement ofthe parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth. and pointed out in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of myimproved fire-escape. .Fig. 2 is aside view of the same.

The supports of the fire-escape consist of a frame, A, constructed oftubes (1, of suitable size, connected together in lengths by couplings bat the several stories of the building. The frame is preferablyconstructed, as shown, of two parallel lines of tubes, connected at thetop and bottom by cross-tubes c, and at the bottom both lines ofvertical tubing are to be connected with the street water-main by apipe, as shown at d,- or acoupling may be provided at that place forconnection of the hose from the engine. The couplings b are formed asTs, that are adapted for connection of the hose-pipe, as shown ate inFig. 1. Beneath each of these connections I) the vertical pipes at arefitted with a platform or balcony, f, these balconies being clampedfirmly tothe pipes and made of a suitable size for the use of firemen inmanipulating the hose. At one or both sides the balconiesf are connectedby an iron ladder, g, which extends from the ground to the upper balconyfor the use of the firemen in ascending and descending, and which mayalso be used for the escape of persons from the building. At its upperend the frame A is fitted with boxes 2', that support a crossshat't, 70,carrying two chain-wheels, l l, and at its lower part, or near theground, the frame is fitted with a similar cross-shaft, is, carryingchain-wheels Z 1. Around the chain-wheels Z Z are endless chains m, andto these chains, at suitable intervals, buckets or cars a are attached,these cars being of a size for holding two or more persons. The lowershaft, 7r, extends at one side, and is provided with a gearwheehp, whichis engaged by the pinion g on a crank-shaft, r. The shaft r is alsoprovided with a heavy fly-wheel, s, to which a handbrake, t, is fittedfor use in regulating the descent of the loaded cars. The frame A is tobe attached to the outside of the building by supports of any suitablecharacter, and may remain as a permanent construction, ready for use atany time.

With a fire-escape apparatus of this construction persons and goods canbe readily placed in the cars it from the windows of the building andlowered safely to the ground, the descent being regulated by means ofthe handle of the crank-shaft or by the brake. The cars being ofsuitable size, timid persons, women, or children placed in them can besafely lowered without danger of their falling out. The ladder furnishesan independent means for the use of the firemen in ascending at thefront of the building, and, water being supplied to the stand-pipes, thehose can be attached wherever desired and readily manipulated from thebalconies to throw the water to the desired place.

Instead of being attached to a building, the apparatus may be made as aportable machine for use with low buildings. In that case it will bemounted on wheels, and made in two portions hinged together, the upperportion to be arranged for being raised and lowered by a windlass andropes.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to securebyLetters Patent 1. In fire-escapes, the frame A, composed of tubesconnected together by T-couplings b, and provided with shafts, chainwheels,.and endless chains carrying buckets or cars, substantially asdescribed, so as to serve the double purpose of a water stand-pipe and atire-escape, as set forth.

2. In fire-escapes, the combination, with an endless-chain elevator, ofa water stand-pipe provided at suitable intervals with couplings forconnection of hose, and forming one or more sides of thesupporting-frame ot' the fireescape, substantially as described.

HASKETT DERBY EASTMAN.

WVitnesses:

DAVID A. SECOMBE, B. N. CARRIER.

